Tent



Oct. 13, 1931. E POULSEN 1,827,486

TENT Filed Aug. 6, 192a INVENTOR [.Poulwerz ATTORNEYJ' Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EILER POULSEN', OF CHICAGO, ILLIN 01S; HALIBERT O. CREWS ADMINISTRATOR F SAID I EILER POULSEN, DECEASED TENT Application filed August 6, 1928. Serial No. 297,701.

My invention relates to im rovements in tents, and it consists in the com inations, constructions, and arrangements herem described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a tent which has novel means for holding the walls of the tent outwardly in the desired positions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein the holding means obviates the necessity of the usual rigid supporting frames.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the, type described which is constructed so that it may be disposed in a compact form which is convenient for travel.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction, which may be 2o readily erected and taken down, and which is durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages Wlll appear in the following specification, and the novel.

25 features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of the tent when in erected position,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the tent shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the tent shownin Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of my tent,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the tent shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged section along the line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another modified form of my tent, and Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure 6. p

In carrying out my invention, I provide a tent having a floor portion 1, a wall portion 2, and atop portion 3. The wall portion 2 is provided with an outwardly extending bottom edge 4 which is secured to the floor por'-' tion 1 by any suitable means not shown. Openings 5 may be provided in the edge 4 and the floor portion 1 for receiving stakes 6.

A retaining member 7 is formed of one piece of material doubled at 8 so as to provide'- an overhanging edge adapted to be secured to the upper edge of the wall portion 2. The retaining member 7 is also provided with a doubled portion 9 to which is secured the; outer edge of the top portion 3 as shown in Figure 3. A tubular member 10, which may be formed of any suitable material, preferably of rubber, is disposed in the retaining member 7. The tubular member 10 may be secured in place by any suitable means, such" as by lacing the edges 11 of the retaining member together. A protecting strip 12 may be disposed in the-retaining'member 7 adjapent the stitched together edges 11 for protecting the tubular member 10. A valve stem" 13, containing a valve not shown, provides means whereby air may be passed into the tubular member 10.

Any suitable means, such as a central pole 14 which may be of more than one piece as indicated in Figure 1, may be provided for holding the tent in its uprlght position.

To place thetent in its upright position, the operator first stakes the floor portion and, B the loweredge 4 of the wall portion 2 to the ground, as indicated in Figure 1. The operator may then attach an air pump to the valve stem 13 and fill the tubular member 10 with air under pressure. The tubular mem--, ber 10 is continuous. The tubular member is round in general contour, but it maybe of any desired shape. a

After this has been completed, the pole 14, which is provided with a projection 15- adapted to extend through a central opening 16 at the center of the top portion 3, may be inserted in place, see Figure 2. In this manner the tent is held in its upright position by means of the supporting pole 14, and the wall portion, together with. the to portion, is held outwardly by means of t etubular member 10. The tent may be provided. with the usual guy ropes indicated at 17 in 100 Figure 1 and the wall portion 2 may be provi ed with an opening or entrance 18.

To take down the tent, the operator merely removes the ole 14, loosens the y ropes 17, removes t e stakes 6, and then, y releasing the air from the tubular member 10, the pent may be folded and rolled into a compact orm.

In Figures 4;, 5, and 6, I have shown a modified form of my device which consists of a floor portion and a wall portion 21. Tubular supporting portions 22 extend from the floor portion 20 to the top and central portion of the wall portion where the communicate with each other, as indicate at 23.

, The tubular supporting portions 22 are ro-- vided with a protective covering 22 w ich may be of canvas or other suitable material. A valve stem 24: provides a means whereby air may be forced into the tubular supporting portions. Hard rubber base portions 25 are vulcanized to the lower ends of the supporting portions 22. Pockets 26 laced or otherwise removably fastened on one side are provided upon the floor portion 20 for removably receiving the base portions 25 and for securing them to the floor portion, thereby securing the supporting portions in their 7 respective places.

In placing the tent shown in Figures l, 5, and 6 in its upright position, the operator merely stakes the door portion to the ground and then forces air through the valve stem 24; and into the supporting portions 22 through the valve stem 24. When this has been accomplished, the pressure of the air in the tubular supporting portions 22 will hold the wall portion 21 in its upright position. Guy ropes may be provided if so desired.

I have shown another modified form of my invention in Figure 7. In this form of my invention, I provide a floor portion 30 and a wall portion 31. U-shaped tubular supporting members 32 and 33 are disposed in each end of the wall portion 31. The supporting members 32 may be provided with base portions as those indicated at 25, and they may also be secured in place as indicated in Figure 6. A reinforcing strip 34 extends from the supporting member 32 to the supporting member 33 and is carried by the top of the wall portion 31. Valve stems 35 and 36 are provided for the tubular supporting members 32 and 33.

In placing this form of the tent in its upright position, the operator may first stake the floor portion to the ground in the usual manner. Then, by forclng air under pressure into the U-shaped-tubular members 32 and 33, the wall portion 31 will be raised to its upright position. Guy ropes 37 are secured to the wall portion 31 at each end of the reinforcing strip 34. B securing the outer ends of the guy ropes 3 to stakes, the tent may be firmly held in its upright posiacetate.

tion. The tent may be readily taken down by releasing the guy ropes, removing the stakes, and then, by releasing the air from the supporting members 32 and 33, the tent may be folded or rolled into a compact form.

I claim:

1. A tent having a top portion and side portions, an inflatable member, retainer means for detachably connecting the inflatable member with the top and side portions, said means comprising a casing member formed of sheet material and folded for providing a pair of wing portions and flap POI? tions, one of said wing portions being connected with the top portion of the tent, the other of said wing portions being connected with the side port1ons of the tent, and means connected with the flap ortions whereby said flap portions ma be astened together for retaining the in atable' member within the casing.

2. A tent having a top portion and side portions, an inflatable member, retainer means for detachably connecting the inflatable member with the top and side portions, 211) said means comprising a casing member formed of sheet material and folded for providing a pair of wing portions and flap portions, one of said wing portions being connected with the top portion of the tent, the other of said wing portions being connected with the side portions of the tent, means con nected with the flap portions whereby said flap portions may be fastened together for, retaining the inflatable member within the too casing, and a tongue member disposed between the flaps and the inflatable member whereby said inflatable member and the flapfastening means are held in spaced-apart po-.

sitions. M5

3. The combination of a tent having side portions, a top portion and a bottom portion, inflatable means for supporting said tent, casing means for encompassing the inflatable means, said inflatable means being provided 1 with enlarged end portions, and means for connecting the enlarged and portions with the bottom portion of the tent, said means comprising pocket members carried by the. bottom portion and adapted for receiving and retaining said enlarged end portions.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois this 2d day of August,

EILER POULSEN. 

